In addition to your primary care physician and office nurses, your local pharmacist also plays an important role in your healthcare. They are an excellent healthcare resource because you can see them as often as you like, without making an appointment or calling ahead. Here are some pharmacy services your local pharmacist can provide that may help you better maintain your health.

Managing Health Conditions And Preventive Interventions

Most local pharmacies have blood pressure machines that are free to use. If you have a question or concern about your reading, you can consult with your pharmacist. They can let you know if your blood pressure is within normal limits and talk to you about risk factors such as smoking, excessive alcohol intake, family history of high blood pressure, diabetes, and obesity.

If your pharmacist determines that you have hypertension, they can consult with your primary care physician to discuss your treatment options. In addition to helping you manage your current health conditions such as high blood pressure, your pharmacy professional can also administer immunizations such as flu shots and shingles vaccinations and instruct you on the proper use of certain medical devices such as glucose meters to check your blood sugar levels.

Medication Counseling

Your pharmacist can also provide medication counseling for both prescription and over-the-counter drugs. They can talk to you about potential side effects and adverse reactions and let you know if your medications might react with other drugs or nutritional supplements you might be taking. Furthermore, the pharmacy professional can also tell you whether or not you should take your medication with food or on an empty stomach. Certain medications work better on an empty stomach and others should be taken with food to reduce the risk for digestive distress. 

If you experience side effects from your medications, the pharmacist can call your primary care doctor who can prescribe a different medication that is less likely to cause side effects. In addition, the pharmacist may also suggest ways in which you can save money on your prescriptions by using generic alternatives to brand names and informing you of special discount pharmaceutical programs that you may qualify for. 

If you need help managing your health conditions or your medications, visit your local drug store and speak with your pharmacist. They will answer your questions and address your concerns, and if warranted, will direct you to your primary care doctor for further consultation.